August 31, 2009

Reporters Notebooks

Richard Deitsch, SI.com: ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews, who was secretly videotaped in the nude while alone in a hotel room, will discuss the incident Sept. 11 on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

David Whitley, FanHouse: Maybe ESPN sleuths and some unnamed police force are trying to get to the bottom of the Erin Andrews' peephole video. If so, I want them chasing me the next time I drill a hole in a hotel wall and videotape my way into Internet history.

Jon Gold, Inside UCLA: The wildfire raging above Pasadena could affect Saturday's San Diego State-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. Officials are worried about air quality in the area. "Wednesday we hope to have a definite answer," Pasadena fire department spokesman Lisa Derderian said. "We're telling businesses, a lot of it has to do with people with existing medical conditions. Asthma, heart, lung disease. The problem is we have no wind. That's good for firefighting, but bad for not blowing the air out."

Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register: Starting strongside linebacker Cory Reamer and freshman quarterback AJ McCarron were the latest subtractions from Alabama's practice on Monday because of a flu-like virus that has spread on campus.

Al Jones, Biloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald: Southern Mississippi receiver DeAndre Brown said he does not expect to play in the opener against Alcorn State. Brown is still recovering from a gruesome fracture of his lower left leg suffered in the New Orleans Bowl.

Berry Tramel, Oklahoman: The Civil War, or as Southerners like to call it, the War of Southern Independence, ended 144 years ago. But its effects remain, in politics, in race relations, in self-examination and perhaps even in football.

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Debunking the mystery of Brigham Young. The school isn't weird or cultish, it's just into clean living. "No alcohol consumption, no tobacco, no premarital sex. Even wild man Jim McMahon honored the code," said Oklahoma City chiropractor Brent Babcock, who graduated from BYU in 1980. About one-third of Cougar players are married.

Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune: BYU has closed all but 20 minutes of practices to the media as the Cougars begin final preparations for Saturday's game against Oklahoma.

Brian Johnson, Deseret News: The former Utah quarterback is writing a blog for the newspaper.

Garry Smits, Florida Times-Union: Before World War II, there were only five bowls: the Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton and Sun. A look at traditions that are gone but not forgotten.

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Comments

Did someone really say Jim McMahon honored the code at BYU? If there is anything Jimmy was known for in Provo, it was his blatant and open disregard for the Honor Code. They still won't retire his number because of it.